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Mississippi Economic Council MEC Snapshot
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MEC Members Raising Their Voices in Support of Reining in the MS Department of Revenue
Since Monday Morning, Responses Rolling In
What other MEC members are saying:
"Mississippi cannot afford any negative business news in an already fragile economy."
Jackson County
"Something definitely needs to be done!"
Tate County
"They (DOR) interpret the tax codes the way that will benefit them and not the taxpayer."
Hinds County
"Perfect example of government agencies running rough shod over the legislature and taxpayers too."
Leflore County
"A negative tax environment will have significant negative impact on the state's future success."
Rankin County
"Attracting and developing investment in our state is tough enough without interference from taxing authorities."
Hinds County
"The Department of Revenue should follow the guidelines of the people's representatives."
Washington County
"Our state needs to be pro-business so that jobs are brought to our state."
Leflore County
Our electronic system lets you raise your voice in support of the Mississippi Taxpayer Fairness Act in just two minutes.
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MEC Legislative Scrambler Focusing on Transportation Set For Feb. 26
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Simmons
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Johnson
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After initially being delayed due to inclement weather, the Mississippi Economic Council will host its Legislative Scrambler focusing on Transportation on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., and attendees will hear from Senator Willie Simmons, Chair, Senate Transportation Committee and Representative Robert Johnson, Chair, House Transportation Committee.
The Scrambler is sponsored by the Mississippi Road Builders' Association.
You can attend in person or dial in by calling 800-771-7943.
MEC's Legislative Scramblers are a great way to have a voice at the Capitol without ever leaving your desk.
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MEC's Blueprint Mississippi Pathway To Progress Tour Continues
Road Show Stops This Week in Meridian and Gautier
The Blueprint Mississippi Pathway to Progress Tour will stop this week in Meridian on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and Gautier on Thursday, Feb. 27, after already visiting Picayune, Bay St. Louis and Gulfport this month.
The tour will stop in Meridian at the Mississippi State University Riley Center, located at 2200 5th St., from 12 - 1:30 p.m. in conjunction with the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. The tour will stop in Gautier at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Student Center, located at 2300 US 90, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. in conjunction with Rotary.
The Blueprint Mississippi Pathway to Progress Tour will conclude on March 4 in Laurel.
Education has been a hot topic, with voters naming it their top priority among Blueprint Goals. Transportation Infrastructure was rated highly, with 87% of attendees ranking it as very important to economic development, with West Point voters ranking it at a Tour-high 92.45%. The majority of voters on the tour had a positive outlook for Mississippi's future, with 60% voting that it would be a hot economic development location 10 years from now.
The MEC Pathway to Progress Tour will visit 19 cities across Mississippi and focus on ways Mississippi can sharpen its competitive edge by implementing the goals and recommendations of Blueprint Mississippi. The sessions will be 90 minutes long and include lunch. There is no cost to attend thanks to a generous sponsorship from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. The event is open to the public; however, pre-registration is required.
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Northington Receives MEC Promotion, Kilroy Hired as Vice President
The Mississippi Economic Council has announced the promotions of Cathy Northington and Christi Kilroy to new leadership positions.
 Cathy Northington has been named Vice President, Programs and Administration. Hired a decade ago as a part-time, entry-level employee, Cathy worked her way up from the ground floor at MEC. Today, Northington is in charge of facilitating Leadership Mississippi, the nation's second oldest leadership program and overseeing the production of MEC's 3 major meetings, bringing together at each over 1500 business leaders all over the state. Married with three children, Northington also is a member of the Professional Women's Association, Madison Ridgeland Rotary Club, Junior League of Jackson provisional member and a 2012 recipient of the Mississippi Business Journal Top 40 under 40. A native of Jackson, Northington studied marketing at Mississippi College.
Christi Kilroy is Vice President of Policy, Research and Engagement at the Mississippi Economic Council. Prior to joining MEC, Kilroy served as Executive Director of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, beginning in July 2006. Her past experience includes owning a tax incentive consulting business in San Francisco and working for the City of New York as a Public Relations Specialist. A native of Dover, OH, she graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Economics. She currently lives in Vicksburg with her husband, Jay, daughter, Lauren and son, Thomas.
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Positioned for Progress Conference Set for April 29-30 in Jackson
Strengthening Mississippi's Charitable and Creative Economies
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SAVE THE DATE!
April 29-30, 2014
Jackson Convention Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Positioned for Progress is a statewide conference focused on aligning the work of the volunteer, nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors to maximize the social, health, and economic well-being of all Mississippians. The conference is focused on identifying, promoting, and recognizing collaborative efforts that better the lives of Mississippi citizens.
Through plenary sessions, interactive workshops, exhibits, networking, and more, you will learn about and participate in efforts to leverage Mississippi's POWER FOR GOOD, and strengthen your ability to be part of Mississippi's Charitable and Creative Economies. By attending the Positioned for Progress Conference, you will learn how to leverage multiple resources - financial, personal and intellectual - to build a better, stronger Mississippi TOGETHER!
Click Here for More Information
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MDA to Sponsor Western Europe Multi Sector Business Development Mission
The Mississippi Development Authority recently announced their sponsorship of a Multi Sector Business Development Mission to Western Europe from March 31 to April 4, 2014. The trip will include stops in the United Kingdom and France. Participating companies will also have the opportunity to make a third stop if they have business prospects in a neighboring market.
The preliminary market research is completely free. In addition, for STEP eligible companies, the Mississippi Development Authority and U.S. Small Business Administration will provide financial and administrative support and will subsidize 75% of the business matchmaking service (4 to 6 meetings with prospective partners/buyers in each market) and reimburse up to 50% of their travel/airfare expenses, hotel accommodations, and meal per diem rates.
If interested in participating, please contact European Trade Specialist Aggie Sikora no later than Feb. 14, 2014. She can be reached at [email protected] or by telephone at (601) 359-2952 (office).
Click Here for More Information
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Creative Economy Focus of
MEC's 65th Annual Meeting
On April 10, MEC will host its 65th Annual Meeting at the Jackson Convention Complex.
This year's meeting will focus on Mississippi's creative economy, a great resource for our state. Earlier this year, Gov. Phil Bryant proclaimed 2014 as the Year of the Creative Economy, celebrating our state's cultural heritage.
Mississippi is the birthplace of America's music, and numerous highly-acclaimed authors, artists and creative minds have called our state home. From Corinth to Pascagoula, the impact of the creative economy can be deeply felt in all aspects of Mississippi life. In a study done by the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Arts Commission, it was found that more than 60,700 people work in Mississippi's creative economy, a figure that includes both individuals employed by creative business enterprises and those who work in creative occupations for other companies. Creative companies alone are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in Mississippi today. These are huge indicators of the impact that the creative economy has on the state's bottom line. Click Here to read the full study.
MEC will pay homage to our history and heritage at our 65th Annual Meeting. Click Here to register today to join us in the celebration!
Keep the Faith
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You are receiving this newsletter because of your past involvement with the Mississippi Economic Council. For more information about MEC, please visit our website at www.msmec.com.
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ABOUT US
The Mississippi Economic Council has been the voice of Mississippi business since 1949. MEC deals with broad issues that relate to businesses through advocacy, research, resources and leadership. MEC has 8,600 members from 1,100 member firms in 2,400 locations throughout Mississippi.
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Mississippi Economic Council - The State Chamber of Commerce
248 E. Capitol Street, Suite 940 - Jackson, Mississippi 39201
P.O. Box 23276 - Jackson, Mississippi 39225-3276
Phone: 601-969-0022 - 1-800-748-7626
Fax: 601-353-0247 - 1-888-717-2809
Click Here for MEC Web Site
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